The Planets

At sunset through out the month, Saturn and Mars ride high in the southern sky. Saturn is to the east of Mars, but steadily closes the gap between the two as the month progresses.
Clear mornings at dawn you can spot Jupiter shinning brightly in the SSW.

The Moon

New Moon: May 5
First Quarter Moon: May 12
Full Moon: May 20
Last Quarter Moon: May 28

Constellation of the Month: Boötes the Herdsman

Boötes (boh-OH-tease) was, according to one Greek myth, a son of Demeter, the Earth Goddess. To support himself, Boötes became a farmer and invented the plow to make his work easier. In recognition of this great service to mankind, the gods placed Boötes in the sky.

Another Greek myth identifies Boötes with Arcas, the son of Kallisto. Kallisto had been turned into a bear by jealous Hera. Arcas, thinking she was just an ordinary bear, chased Kallisto into the sacred temple of Zeus, a forbidden place. Zeus snatched up Arcas and his mother and placed them in the sky as the constellations of the bear and the bear keeper.

How to find Boötes: The constellation is nearly overhead. First, find the bright star Arcturus. Locate the handle of the Big Dipper and follow the curve to a bright star located almost overhead. Arcturus is at the base of the "ice cream cone" figure that makes Boötes.

Events

• May 24: pre-dawn, Jupiter appears above the moon separated by less than the width of two fingers held at arm's length.